NSW GOVERNMENT WEEKLY UPDATE - 4 DECEMBER 2020

4 December 2020
GREEN SHOOTS AS NSW ECONOMY RETURNS TO GROWTH
 
  • The New South Wales economy has helped power Australia back to economic growth and out of the first recession in almost three decades, with ABS data released showing a 6.8 per cent rebound in state final demand for the September quarter. 
  • Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the positive result was driven by a number of factors including a 10.8 per cent increase in household consumption and strong investment by the NSW Government in the public sector, which saw public demand up two per cent in the quarter and 6.4 per cent through the year.
  • For more information on the State’s economic recovery, reform agenda, and the NSW Budget released on November 17 please visit budget.nsw.gov.au.
 
NSW POLICE GRADUATES IMPACTED BY PANDEMIC HONOURED WITH SPECIAL CEREMONY
 
  • NSW has welcomed 1,000 new police officers at a special ceremony paying tribute to the ‘Classes of 2020’, who joined the Police Force to protect our State during the catastrophic bushfire season and the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The NSW Police Force Attestation Parade was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground to officially welcome four classes of graduating officers in front of friends and family members.
  • The NSW Government has committed $583 million to introduce 1500 extra Police over four years and recently announced a $60 million upgrade to Goulburn Police Academy.
 
NEW PARKS PROTECTING ANCIENT CULTURE
  • The NSW Government is handing back more than 15,000 hectares of land to Aboriginal owners in the State’s central west which will be reserved to form the new Mt Grenfell National Park and the Mt Grenfell State Conservation Area.
  • The new National Park and State Conservation Area will add 15,285 hectares to the existing Mt Grenfell Historic Site effectively forming a protective ring around some of the most significant Aboriginal art and cultural sites in Australia.
  • Premier Gladys Berejiklian said these new reservations mean the protected area at Mt Grenfell now covers nearly 17,000 hectares.
 
MORE TREES ACROSS GREATER SYDNEY
  • New, green life will be breathed into Greater Sydney with more than 40,000 trees to be planted and a series of innovation projects delivered thanks to $10 million in NSW Government grants. 
  • The Greening Our City program will provide grants to 30 councils and two partner organisations across two funding streams - Cooler Suburbs and Green Innovations.
  • A list of successful applicants is available at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/premiers-priorities/greening-our-city
 
GOVERNMENT CHARGES AHEAD WITH ELECTRIC BUSES
  • More than 50 new electric buses will roll out across Sydney over the next year, as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to deliver faster and quieter services.
  • Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the government is transitioning the state’s fleet of 8,000 buses to zero emission technology
 
DESIGN UNVEILED FOR MANLY YOUTH HOSPICE
 
  • A unique youth hospice will provide young people living with incurable illness and their families a welcoming and supportive environment during end-of-life care.
  • Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Member for Manly James Griffin unveiled artist impressions of the design of Australia’s first Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice, to be built on the old Manly Hospital site.
  • For further information and to support the Manly Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice, visithttp://www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Manly/Pages/default.aspx
 
LEVEL 1 WATER RESTRICTIONS LIFTED AS SYDNEY’S BEST WATER SAVING SUBURBS REVEALED
 
  • From December 1, 2020, Level 1 Water restrictions for Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Illawarra will be lifted and replaced with Water Wise Guidelines.
  • Minister for Water Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey said Greater Sydney has done a great job saving water during one of the worst droughts on record.
  • Exemption permits for households and businesses will no longer be required. For more information visit here. Sydney Water vision can be found here.
 
SOD TURNED FOR NEW $50 MILLION LIVERPOOL HOSPITAL CAR PARK
 
  • Construction of a $50 million multi-storey car park for the new Liverpool Hospital has begun, promising families improved access to healthcare in south-western Sydney.
  • Health Minister Brad Hazzard joined Member for Holsworthy Melanie Gibbons to turn the sod on the new building, which will have an additional 500 parking spaces.
 
NSW CRACKS DOWN ON RECKLESS BEHAVIOUR ON OUR ROADS
 
  • The NSW Government will crack down on life threatening behaviour on our State’s roads, with the launch of a new safety campaign aimed at stopping drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving.
  • Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott and Minister for Roads Andrew Constance joined the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and Crime Stoppers (NSW) to launch the ‘Four Ds’ campaign. 
  • 280 people have died on NSW roads so far this year from 1 January 2020 to 26 November 2020.
 
NSW URGED TO ‘GET READY’ FOR SUMMER
 
  • Prepare your bushfire survival plan, don’t drive through floodwater, swim between the flags, and make sure your home is fire safe this summer – these are some of the safety tips NSW emergency service agencies have shared ahead of the 2020 summer season. 
  • Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott joined emergency services leaders on Sydney Harbour to issue the timely reminder, as people begin decorating their homes for Christmas, planning holidays in regional NSW and enjoying warm days by the water.
  • Find out more about the steps you can take to Get Ready for summer athttps://resilience.nsw.gov.au/prepare.html
 
FUNDRAISING FIREFIGHTER NAMED NSW VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
 
  • Rural Fire Service volunteer Kim Hill has been named the 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year for her passion and dedication to bushfire-impacted communities in South Western Sydney and the Southern Highlands.
  • Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the 43-year-old health and wellbeing specialist has been volunteering since she was 14, and was chosen from more than 100,000 nominees.
  • Awards were also announced across seven categories, including the Young Volunteer of the Year, Senior Volunteer of the Year and Team Volunteer of the Year. For a full list of winners from the 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, visit https://www.volunteering.com.au/volunteer-awards/. 
 
ALFRESCO DINING ON THE TABLE FOR NSW
   
PHONICS COMPULSORY FOR EVERY STUDENT
 
  • The teaching of reading using phonics will be a compulsory part of the classroom from 2021 onwards.
  • Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the evidence of phonics effectiveness is undeniable, and from 2021 all Year 1 NSW public school students will undergo a compulsory phonics check.

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